Vigilance on punch penalties

A ONE-PUNCH law for Tasmania is not favoured by the state government, which said the current legislation was strong enough.

However, the opposition will ``closely consider'' any measures that could deter serious assaults.

The deaths of two Sydney teenagers from king hits, rapidly being more commonly referred to as coward punches, has sparked an outcry over alcohol-fuelled violence.

Daniel Christie, 18, died at the weekend afer being punched on New Year's Eve in Sydney. He was hit just metres from where Thomas Kelly, also 18, was struck in 2012. Mr Kelly later died from head injuries.

The NSW government has responded by promising ``one-punch'' laws that carry a maximum 20 years' jail.

The law would make it easy to get convictions by removing the need to prove a defendant knew a ``king hit'' would be fatal.